We have scorplings!

We have yellow-tailed scorpion babies! The next generation of educational animal ambassadors for this non-native introduced species. Congratulations to new mummy Snappy who’s been diligently caring for her litter of scorplings over the last few weeks (most of which are not in the photo as hiding under the cave!) and has now taken a well deserved large meal.

Scorpions are fantastic mothers, giving birth to live young after a long gestation period lasting several months. The young live on their mothers back where she keeps them protected until their first moult, providing them with water through her cuticle (part of the exoskeleton).

You can see in the first photo the scorplings have left their mother's back which indicates they are ready to start living independently of her. In the second photo you can see how she looked when gravid, with a very enlarged abdomen!